2-in-1 Treks: Mullayanagiri trek From Sarpadhari & Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri Trek

Mullayanagiri is the highest peak in the state of Karnataka, India, with an elevation of 1,929 meters (6,329 feet). It is located in the Chikkamagaluru district and is a popular destination for trekking. The trek to the top of Mullayanagiri involves a moderate level of difficulty and can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours, depending on the route taken and the fitness level of the trekker. The trek offers breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and valleys and is a great way to experience the natural beauty of the region. It is advisable to undertake the trek with a group or a guide, as the route can be challenging and it is important to take necessary precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.

Update: Recently I received a comment on this blog that the trek route is closed now. Please use your own discretion before proceeding for this trek. Thanks!

Mullayanagiri Peak trek via Sarpadhari and From Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri Peak trek

Sarpadhari to Mullayanagiri Trek

  • Ideal duration: 30-45 minutes
  • Difficulty level: Moderate to difficult
  • Sarpadhari to Mullayanagiri Trek distance: 1.2 Km
  • Maximum altitude: 6,330 feet
  • Trail Type: Point to point
  • Trail Link

Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri trek

  • Ideal duration: 3-4 hours
  • Difficulty level: Easy to Moderate
  • Elevation gain/lose: 775 feet elevation gain and 1760 feet elevation loss
  • Maximum altitude: 6,330 feet
  • Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri trek distance: 8 Km 
  • Trail Type: Point to point
  • Mullayangiri to Bababudangiri trail link

Mullayanagiri to bababudanagiri trek route

This trekking route makes trekking little tricky if you are going there in your own vehicle. Because you reach the Mullayanagiri peak in the morning; park your vehicle there; start trek to the Bababudangiri; reach Bababudangiri by the evening but there is no transportation from Bababudangiri back to the Mullayanagiri peak.

In that case, you should have a driver with your vehicle who can drop you at the Mullayanagiri peak or at Sarpadhari and should be waiting for you at the BabaBudangiri to pick you up after the trek. There is a motorable road to both of the peaks and there is a trekking trail which joins the two peaks and forms the trekking route.

Mullayanagiri from Bangalore

You can also use public transport to reach Mullayanagiri peak. But for that, you would first need to reach Chikmagalur the base district town and from there hire an Auto or a jeep to the peak.

Sarpadhari trek to Mullayanagiri peak:

The Sarpadhari trek to Mullayanagiri peak starts at this point called Mullayanagiri trek Starting Point on the Google map. You will also see a small arch iron gate to your left. It’s Sarpadhari, the trek starting point. Sarpadhari is a Kannada word which means path like a snake, ‘Sarpa’ stands for snake and ‘Dhari’ for the way.

Mullayanagiri Sarpadhari trek beginning point

Mullayanagiri Sarpadhari trek beginning point

From Chikmagalur, Sarpadhari is around 15 Kms. The Auto charges you around 300-400 to drop you there. If you are a trekking enthusiast, you should start your trek from the Sarpashari itself. Start early morning to avoid the sun. Mind that there will be a lot of fog in the morning.

You can also use the Google map to download the Sarpadhari. Sarpadhari trail is little steep sometimes. You also get to see the sunrise if you start early morning. The trek until Mullayanagiri peak takes around an hour.

Mullayanagiri to BabaBudangiri trek:

Once you reach the Mullayanagiri peak (Either directly by vehicle or by Sarpadhari trek), you can start the trek to BabaBudangiri from Mullayanagiri. The trail can be found on the Google map. Just for your information, the Mullayanagiri trail to BabaBudangiri starts behind the Shiva temple. Here is the link to the Mullayanagiri to Baba budangiri trail

If you are going to the peak with your own vehicle, it might happen that big vehicles like Tempo-traveler or MiniBus might not make it to the peak. In that case, the bus will drop you at the Seethlayanagiri Temple from where the Mullayanagiri peak is around 2 Kms along the same road.

Mullayanagiri by vehicle

Mullayanagiri by vehicle

The total trek distance from Mullayanagiri peak to the BabaBudangiri peak is around 9 Kms and it takes a time of around 5 hours if your group is fast enough. Almost after 3 Kms from the Mullayanagiri peak, you cross the Attigundi road. There is a forest department office at the crossing. You might to take permission there or pay some forest department charges. Attigundi road is the same road which joins Mullayanagiri peak to the BabaBudangiri peak by road for vehicles.

After you cross the forest department officials, the Mullayanagiri trek is mostly along the ridge. You will get to see the valley on one of the trail. You can also down the whole trail offline on your mobile phone and use GPS while trekking.

Mullayanagiri trekking tips:

  • Always look out for the white marks on the rocks or on the trail.
  • If you encounter a dead end an hour after the crossing the forest department along with the ridge, follow the GPS. The same trail continues and is located on the left.
  • Always remember the BSNL tower. The BSNL tower is located near the end.
  • At one of time, we found a bifurcation where we took the right trail and that led to nowhere. We took the left trail near the tower. Or in short, keep the GPS trail installed.
  • You can camp near the BabaBudangiri. There is a water source there called “Manikhyadhara waterfall”.
  • There are also shops near the BabaBudangiri where you can get food.
  • I am not sure of the vehicles from BabaBudangiri to the Chikmagalur. I think Autos are available.
Mullayanagiri, Western Ghats

Mullayanagiri, Western Ghats

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75 Replies to “2-in-1 Treks: Mullayanagiri trek From Sarpadhari & Mullayanagiri to Bababudangiri Trek”

  1. Aadarsh Baid

    This trek has been closed. Do not follow the route map. The government has closed it. You can reach the hill tops by car itself.

  2. Pratheshwar M

    I’m planning to trek the hills on 24th of May 2018.. do I need a good or can I manage on my own.. what are the ideal things I shouldn’t miss carrying with me on this trek.. also I’m planning to stay in Karnataka for a week to trek the western ghats.. any other help and guidance would be a huge favour thank you.

  3. Gayathri

    Hi.. tmrw mrg v r planned to Trek in mullayangiri.. shuld v approach a guide or to seek permission from forest office…or v can go by our own..

  4. Jason

    Hi All,
    We recently went to mullayanagiri. Sep,30 2017. Please is really good.we started from Bangalore night 11.30PMin KSRCT bus. Reached morning 4.35AM. From chikkamagalore you have to take private vehicle or some auto works well. We mainly went for trekking so we took auto to sarpadari which cost 300Rs five guys.Then started trek reached in one and half hour to peak. We roamed around hill went behind temple on our own. Main thing is leeches careful and check often for leeches on shoes or legs. To come back we had heavy rain issue afternoon so couldn’t proceed with trek. From peak we can come to check post by any jeep or auto. But most vehicles will be on reservation. We have to ask for drops. Then from check post KSRTC local buses available till 7.30PM to bus stop and its cheep. Later we got bus to Bangalore. I am writings this because when started not much Info on transport was available. So it might help others. Happy travel

  5. Shibin

    Hi ,
    We are planing to go by this saturday…i got almost updates on this place..we are planing to go bi bike..so for a safer side we palnned to park it in some hotel..could you please advise whether any good guest house or rooms are available at the startging of treking point or some where nearby,it might be helpful

  6. Manjukumar T R

    We are planning to visit mulayanagiri on 3rd of June 2017.
    1. We are around 30 people, Do we need to get permission to from Mullayanagiri peak to BabaBudanGiri peak
    2. What will be cost per jeap from Bababudhangiri to Chikamangaluru.
    3. Can i get the current weather condition and its good time to visit to see greenery.
    4. Do we need to book Jeap in advance to pick from BabaBudanGiri peak

  7. Guruprasad

    Hi. I’m planning on trekking only till the mullayanagiri peak and follow the same route down. Is that advisable? Will I get some transportation back to chickmangalur from sarpadari?

  8. Abishek Kumar

    I came to know that camping is not allowed in Mullayangiri or Bababudangiri. Can you please let me know if you have any idea about anyone did camping recently. Few weeks back we went to Mullayangiri for bike ride and wanted to go again for camping.

  9. Vikas

    Hello

    We are planning to trek this weekend (30 oct 2016). we are planning to leave mysore early morning at 5 and will be reaching the base point round 8 am. Somewhere you mentioned that now a days they are not allowing to trek after some point. Is it possible to trek now.?

    Is it possible to complete the trek by 3 pm if we reach base camp early morning around 8 am..??

    Is there any safe place to park 4 wheeler near the base camp..??

    • trekkerp Post author

      There is a forest department office midway. It depends on the forest department guide. I wish he allows you guys to go further. Yeah, completing the trek by 3 PM is possible provided you walk fast and do not take long breaks. I hope you have a small number of people in your trekking group. It is safe there. But I am wondering how will return to the trek starting point?

  10. Stalin Rajkumar

    Can you please guide use on how to get back to chikmagalur once we reach the end of the trek at at afternoon at bababudangiri?

  11. chethancrasher

    Highly Informative. We are planning to head towards Mullyanagiri during september could you please clarify few questions mentioned below.

    1. Is there any trekking charges involved from Sarphadari to Bababudangiri?
    2. Do we have any (transit) BUS facilities to return back from Bababudangiri to Chikamagaluru back on the same day?
    3. What would be the ideal time to start from Chikamagaluru to complete the whole trek in one single day.
    4. Any idea on transit from kemmanagundi to chikkamagaluru (viceversa)? since we are planning to cover up some local places at kemmanagundi a day before we start trekking.

    • trekkerp Post author

      1. You might have to pay the guard in between when you cross the main road otherwise there is no any trekking charge
      2. There are not any bus facilities you might to book an auto to Mullayanagiri or a jeep may be and the same while returning from bababudangiri
      3. start as early as possible… road to Mullayanaigir forest reserve open at 6 in the morning to try to stick to that time before that you cant enter anyway
      4. No idea about the last question and I do not think there is any transit.. maybe local buses

    • trekkerp Post author

      So you take the permission almost on the half way near the forest department office which is half way across. Now a days, due to monsoon and an unfortunate incident which happened last year at the same time, they might not give you the permission to trek further. For more clarifications, go through the blog again. You will get to know what am I meaning to say?

  12. Mahesh

    Western Ghats Adventure club in Chikmagalur. Organizes trekking, camping, homestay to Mullayanagiri, bababudangiri hills. Their hospitality is awesome and over nite camping in a coffee estate is an awesome experience. Any one willing can contact them @ 9008899008.

  13. varun

    Can u plz tell us. If camping is allowed on mullayanagiri. And I heard tat we cnt put d tent bcoz of heavy wind. Can u guide me plz. I m also planning fr 2nyt stay. Where all cn I go fr trekking.

  14. Vinod

    Ur info on d blog was useful..
    N v r planning to go tis Sept. Ten Of us by five bikes , so I needed to know where can v park our vehicles ?
    Is it safe ?
    V r planning to trekk til bababudangiri..
    Can v park vehicles at sarpadhari or near Shiva temple @ mullayanagiri peak ?

    N can v get any accommodations @ bababudhangiri fr d nyt ?

    • trekkerp Post author

      @Parking the bikes: Lets know something about the place.
      Sarpadhari begins from main road and its not a safe place.
      Shiv temple, Mullayanaigir peak: Yes, its a safe place to park the bike. Or,
      Seeth?layanagiri Temple: it comes 3-4 kms before Mullayanagiri peak. From this temple until Mullayanagiri peak the road is in not so good motorable condition. So if some car is there better park here. Bikers go until mullayanagiri peak. But I cant guarantee total safety if you are leaving your bike for 6-7 hours or even more than that

      Once you finish the trek, you will reach manikhayadhara waterfall… refer the map.. from there a road goes to bababudanagiri and further connects to other places…Manikhyadharra is 4-5 kms from bababudanagiri so.. either you can walk upto bababudanagiri or you can take some life from waterfall to bababudanagiri, you can find autos and bus….there will be lot of vehicles but mostly private like that happens at tourist spots but some will be public vehicles as well……

      @accomodation.. there is a guest house at bababudanagiri, I am sure of this but I dont know the exact location because I camped at manikhyadhara so never really needed however some other trekking group informed me about the cottage house.. so you can try that…

      coming back to bikes… I cant say much about the leaving bike at shiva temple for more than 12 hours… if you are planning soo

  15. jyothsnacg

    Hi There,
    I am planning of doing this route between 25 and 26 July, i heard hat there is no camping allowed on Mullayangiri because it comes under the wildlife area!! will be great if you could share any latest update you would have on this.

    Thanks
    Jyothsna

    • trekkerp Post author

      There is no permission needed. You take the permission once you cross the highway. That permission is only for trekking. Near the waterfall there is no need of permission. Its now a days almost a public area. In the day time, you can see people doing picnic and celebrating their days

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